Newcastle United have made some late-window headlines and have put forward a proposal to land a new frontman before the close of play.
Newcastle United keen on acquiring late arrivals
Eddie Howe will realise he has his work cut out for him after a goalless stalemate against Leeds United on Saturday evening, which has put the cat among the pigeons regarding their lack of a goalscorer.
Seeking a clinical edge at the top end of the field, Nick Woltemade has arrived at Newcastle from Stuttgart, but had to make do with a place in the stands at Elland Road while William Osula earned a rare start through the middle.
Delivering an honest assessment of his side’s performance in Yorkshire, Howe admitted their lacklustre nature in the final third left a lot to be desired, even if the Geordies showed resilience to come away with a point.
He told BBC Radio Five Live: “I thought there was a lot of commitment from the players. This is a tough place to come to and I think we stood up to it really well. Defensively it was a very strong performance. I thought we looked organised, put our bodies on the line, blocked shots really well and stopped their main threats.
“We’re disappointed the other way that we didn’t cause them more problems. We had a few moments that you think could’ve led to more. We’re just in that moment where the goals aren’t flowing and that cost us today.”
When to expect announcement of Isak agreement between Liverpool & Newcastle
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Manchester United’s Kobbie Mainoo is a late target for Newcastle who could offer a level of dictation in midfield, though it appears that Howe is after a striker, and he may now be moving closer to securing an arrival.
Newcastle United submit verbal offer for Yoane Wissa
Taking to social media platform X, Ben Jacobs confirmed Newcastle have put forward a ‘verbal’ offer of £45 million overall for the Democratic Republic of Congo international, though the Bees delayed giving a response due to not finding a suitable alternative.
Furthermore, Keith Andrews and the Bees are said to want £60 million before being tempted into a sale due to their struggles to bring in a replacement, potentially creating a scenario where the Magpies need to fork out considerable money to acquire his signature.
Labelled “incredible” by Thomas Frank, Wissa scored 20 times and laid on five assists in 39 matches last term and has since been at the centre of vast speculation, which may favour Newcastle at this late stage.
Ultimately, a potent finisher is needed to supplement Woltemade’s arrival, and the former Lorient man would be more than capable of stepping up to the challenge.
Will yet another summer spending spree at Chelsea continue?
Already this window, the Blues have spent in excess of £220m to recruit eight new players, including Estêvão Willian, Jamie Gittens, Liam Delap, João Pedro and others.
Chelsea forward Joao Pedro
Now though, the newly-crowned Club World Cup champions have their eye on a Premier League superstar.
Chelsea's search for more attackers
Of the new recruits mentioned above, suffice it to say that Pedro has made the biggest immediate impression.
On his full debut, having been on a beach in Brazil just a matter of days earlier, the striker scored two absolute thunderbolts against former side Fluminense in the Club World Cup semi-finals, before adding the third during the 3-0 final demolition of PSG a few days later.
Ahmed Walid of the Athletic outlines how he has made an immediate impact, despite extremely ‘limited training time with the squad’, suggesting the Blues would not have won the competition without him.
Nevertheless, Chelsea could now sign an even bigger Premier League star for even more than the £60m paid to secure Pedro’s services.
That’s because, according to a report by Mark Brus of Caught Offside, Chelsea have been in contact with Eberechi Eze’s representatives over a potential move, as they enter talks over a potential move for the attacking midfielder.
Ed Aarons of the Guardian has previously documented Arsenal and Tottenham’s interest in the England international, noting that his contract contains a £67.5m release clause, with Palace ‘adamant’ that he will only be allowed to leave if that price point is met.
The Gunners have appeared to be the front-runners to sign Eze, but could Chelsea usurp their fierce London rivals, just as they did to infamously sign Mykhailo Mudryk for a reported fee of £88.7m back in January 2023?
How Eberechi Eze would improve Chelsea
Eze scored 14 goals and registered 11 assists in all competitions last season, most notably bagging the winner in the FA Cup Final as Crystal Palace upset the odds to defeat Manchester City at Wembley in May.
His performances warranted rave reviews, with Statman Dave labelling him a “gifted player”, while Simon Collings of the Evening Standard praised his ‘ability to play off the cuff and create something out of nothing’, adding that supporters are instantaneously enamoured by his ‘flamboyant playing style’.
Meanwhile, Sam Tabuteau of Breaking the Lines notes that he is ‘thriving as the talisman’ at Selhurst Park, believing now is the right time for the 27-year-old to make the next step in his career.
So, how did he compare to Chelsea’s most recent, big-money intra-Premier League signing, Pedro?
Appearances
43
30
Minutes
3,303
2,136
Goals
14
10
Assists
11
7
All statistics below are per-90 and PL only:
Shots
2.2
1.6
Shots on target
1.1
1
Chances created
2
1.3
Take-ons completed
2.4
1.4
Take-on success %
51.9%
38.2%
Touches
54.9
48.8
Average Sofascore rating
7.28
7.15
As the table outlines, Eze comes out on top for every single attacking metric included, both in terms of overall and on a per 90 basis.
In fact, only four players attempted more take-ons than Eze in the league last season, while also ranking sixth for shot-creating actions, both according to FBref.com.
Pedro played around 500 fewer minutes in the Premier League, mainly due to the fact that he didn’t feature in any of Brighton’s final five matches to conclude the campaign, first sent off against Brentford, subsequently serving a three-match suspension, before being exiled following a ‘training ground altercation’ with teammate Jan Paul van Hecke.
Crystal Palace's EberechiEzecelebrates with the trophy after winning the FA Cup
No such concerns surrounding Eze, who is a truly majestic player to watch, and would be a serious statement signing for Chelsea, even if they already boast plenty of options in attacking areas, as he could be even better than Pedro.
Their own Mbeumo: Chelsea in talks for "one of the best 10s in the world"
The international ace would be unreal for Chelsea.
Those of a Liverpool persuasion appear to have come down with a nasty case of Alexander Isak fever, and well, who can blame them?
The bombshell news emerged on Tuesday that, after months of whispers and speculation, the Premier League champions are finally ready to firm up their interest in the Newcastle United man, amid the prospect of a potential £120m bid for the Swede.
That mammoth offer – which would eclipse the Reds’ recent club-record capture of Florian Wirtz – could put the icing on the cake for the Anfield side’s summer business, with Isak fresh off the back of a season that saw him score 23 top-flight goals.
Unsurprisingly, the Magpies are hell-bent on keeping hold of their star man for a little while longer, albeit with Richard Hughes playing the trump card after rivalling Eddie Howe and co in the pursuit of Isak’s heir apparent, Hugo Ekitike. Checkmate?
Either way, it would appear that the Merseysiders are in a strong bargaining position, with optimism growing that the division’s “best striker” – as described by Sweden boss Jon Dahl Tomasson – could be lining up alongside the likes of Mohamed Salah next season.
Isak, as stated, might well be the delicious icing, but Hughes could also sprinkle a little cherry on top by sealing yet another high-profile deal in the coming weeks…
Latest on Liverpool's transfer pursuit
Wirtz. Jeremie Frimpong. Milos Kerkez. Isak next?
It may now be a waiting game to see if the Newcastle marksman will agitate for a move, albeit with Liverpool no doubt keen to pounce on the 25-year-old’s contract uncertainty, with the Daily Mail’s Dominic King outlining that talks have ‘stalled’ over a new deal at St James’ Park.
According to King, Hughes and his recruitment team will officially move for the former Real Sociedad striker if they ‘receive encouragement’, with this game of cat and mouse likely to have a few twists and turns to come.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
Elsewhere, meanwhile, Football Insider have reported that Liverpool are expected to soon seal a deal for Crystal Palace skipper, Marc Guehi, with that move looking ‘increasingly likely’ amid developments at Selhurst Park.
Indeed, the report outlines that with the Eagles seemingly closing in on the £45m signing of Sporting CP centre-back, Ousmane Diomande, it would pave the way for Guehi to depart.
The suggestion is that with the England international having just a year left to run on his Palace contract, the south Londoners are keen to cash in this summer, rather than lose him on a free in 12 months’ time.
Why Liverpool could be set to seal another Isak-esque signing
It’s fair to say that after sitting out the recent friendly win over Preston North End, excitement is brewing over finally seeing the aforementioned Wirtz in action in a Liverpool shirt, with the 22-year-old German signing off his time at Bayer Leverkusen with 122 goals and assists in 97 games in all competitions.
Florian Wirtz
That capture is a statement deal, no doubt, but if Isak were to arrive, it would truly take the biscuit, with the 6 foot 4 sensation a Premier League-proven talent, having scored 44 league goals across the last two seasons combined.
The man who helped steer Newcastle to Carabao Cup glory over Arne Slot’s side earlier this year, the £63m goal machine could now be the figurehead of a new era at Anfield, with the rest of the division likely to already be quaking in their boots.
As for Guehi, while such a deal would almost go under the radar amid the current circumstances, there would be shades of Isak about that acquisition, with Liverpool in line to poach another key figure from a fellow Premier League outfit.
Currently captain at Selhurst Park, the 25-year-old has already made 132 appearances in England’s top tier to date, having notably skippered his side to shock FA Cup glory in 2024/25.
Minutes played
61
Touches
17
Pass accuracy
75%
Key passes
1
Possession lost
2
Ground duels won
1/2
Aerial duels won
1/4
Tackles
1
Clearances
4
Like Isak, the in-demand defender – who has also been linked with a move to Arsenal this summer – has more than proven himself against Premier League opposition, with both men also seemingly at the perfect point of their careers. Indeed, with both men still only 25, they have gained notable experience at the top level, but may not yet have entered their peak.
Described as a “monster” of a centre-back by reporter Bobby Manzi, Guehi – like Isak – is also “one of the best in the country” in his position, as per scout Mick Brown, with Liverpool able to acquire a player who would slot straight into their starting lineup.
Crystal Palace's MarcGuehi
Much like with Isak, there would be no period of transition or adaptation, this is a player who could well hit the ground running on Merseyside.
This is a man who ranks in the top 10% of centre-backs in Europe’s top five leagues for key passes per 90, as well as in the top 10% for through balls, as per FBref. In essence, he is a master at playing out from the back.
Having romped to the title at a canter last season, Liverpool are at a point now where they can poach the very best that the Premier League has to offer. In their respective positions, Isak and Guehi would be just that.
Romano: Liverpool plan to submit record-breaking bid to sign Alexander Isak
Chelsea have started their Club World Cup campaign in topsy-turvy fashion, so Enzo Maresca will undoubtedly be keen on seeing more from his team.
The competition won’t be the only thing he has his eyes on over the coming weeks, especially as the summer transfer window is now in full swing.
Maresca is keen to improve his squad, and with qualification for the Champions League secured, money is available in abundance.
Players such as Jamie Gittens and Mohammed Kudus have been linked with the Blues as of late, but is it the defence that perhaps needs the most work done this summer?
Chelsea transfer news
While links to attacking players seem to pop up most days, Maresca is still chasing a defender or two.
Benfica star Tomas Araujo emerged as a transfer target last week, while Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite is reportedly on the club’s shortlist.
Benfica defender Tomas Araujo
One player whom Maresca is also keen on is Nottingham Forest defender Murillo, according to football.london.
The report states that nothing has advanced on bringing another defender to Stamford Bridge, but things could change quickly, as they have set their sights on the central defender.
Murillo has been valued at £80m in the past by his club, indicating that if Chelsea are serious, they may need to stump up the cash.
Nottingham Forest's Elliot Anderson celebrates scoring their first goal with Nikola Milenkovic andMurillo
If so, he could turn out to be the next Thiago Silva for Chelsea, no doubt about that.
Why Chelsea must sign Murillo
Former Chelsea defender Silva is still going strong back in his homeland with Fluminense. Indeed, he was arguably one of the finest players on the pitch against Borussia Dortmund at the grand old age of 40.
He made over 150 competitive appearances for Chelsea between 2020 and 2024, winning the Champions League in the process, as a terrific Brazilian centre-back for the Blues.
Season
Games
Goals
Assists
2023/24
38
4
1
2022/23
35
0
5
2021/22
49
3
2
2020/21
34
2
0
Silva commanded the backline superbly and was a born leader. Murillo may only be 22, but he could have the potential to have a career just as good as his compatriot.
He was excellent for Forest last term, and his performances saw him rank highly across a range of metrics when compared to others in Europe’s top five leagues.
Not only did he rank in the top 3% for blocks (1.95) per 90, but the defender also ranked in the top 7% for clearances (7.03) and in the top 2% for successful take-ons (0.76), which proves he is capable of shining both defensively and going forward.
Hailed as “monstrous” by journalist Ryan Taylor earlier this year, the Brazilian defender may not be the finished article just yet, but it won’t be long before he blossoms.
The youngster lived up to that praise by winning an impressive 60% of his total duels last term, while he was dribbled past on just 0.5 occasions per game in the top flight.
If Maresca wishes to improve his defensive options, then signing Murillo could be a wise choice.
The club struggled at times last year from a defensive viewpoint, conceding 59 goals in all competitions.
Signing the Forest man would certainly shore up the backline and provide the club with another sublime Brazilian centre-back to lead the defence once again.
Chelsea open discussions over signing £86m Club World Cup sensation
After agreeing a deal worth over £17m to sign Fer Lopez from Celta Vigo, with a medical now scheduled, Wolverhampton Wanderers have reportedly submitted a bid to sign another impressive star.
Wolves on course to sign Fer Lopez
Having lost both Matheus Cunha and Rayan Ait-Nouri to both Manchester clubs, Wolves were always likely to spring into action in the transfer window sooner rather than later. It’s a crucial summer for Vitor Pereira, who has the task of pushing the Midlands club into mid-table and away from the relegation zone once again in his first full season in charge.
Lopez’s arrival is a good start on that front. The 21-year-old winger is someone who is only likely to get better, but also a player who is perfectly capable of making an immediate impact. After scoring eight goals and creating another three in all competitions at Celta Vigo last season, the Spaniard will have his sights set on improving those numbers in the Premier League.
At over €20m (£17m), Wolves’ deal to sign Lopez may seem steep but they’ve still got money to spend after selling Cunha and Ait-Nouri for large fees earlier this summer. Just what they do with that money now that they’ve added Lopez is the big question.
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To that end, a number of rumours have already arrived. The likes of Robert Renan, who Pereira has worked with in the past, has been among the headlines in recent weeks but those in the Midlands have seemingly set their sights on a Ligue 1 star before anything else.
Wolves submit offer to sign striker Guessand
According to Africa Foot, Wolves have now submitted an offer to sign Evann Guessand from OGC Nice this summer. The French club reportedly value their forward at around €30m (£26m) and, whilst it is currently unknown just how much Wolves offered, that is a price tag that they should be able to afford in the coming months.
Evann Guessand in action for Nice in Ligue 1.
Like Lopez, Guessand would help to replace Cunha’s hefty output at Molineux, having scored 13 goals in all competitions for Nice last season and create another 10. Suddenly, in two transfers, Wolves could be adding 21 goals and 13 assists to their side to more than replace Cunha’s 23 goal involvements last season.
Dubbed “electric” by U23 scout Antonio Mango, Guessand would represent another impressive piece of business if Wolves manage to reach an agreement with Nice this summer.
Chelsea are continuing to work on their summer recruitment plans, even after the pre-Club World Cup transfer deadline passed at 7pm on Tuesday, with manager Enzo Maresca still able to add new players to his squad midway through the tournament.
How Chelsea can still introduce new signings for the Club World Cup
It was thought that the mini-summer window, which opened from June 1 to June 10, would be Chelsea’s only opportunity to strengthen ahead of their CWC campaign.
Chelsea think £65m striker could rival Alexander Isak, they've held talks
Stamford Bridge chiefs have a very high opinion of him.
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It was, after all, why the window was introduced in the first place – to hand competing teams a chance to register new players after long and gruelling 2024/2025 campaigns.
However, as per Sky Sports reporter Kaveh Solhekol in the last few days, Chelsea and other sides taking part in the tournament will also have a unique registration period to benefit from midway through the CWC.
Cole Palmer
7.33
Moises Caicedo
7.02
Enzo Fernández
6.95
Nicolas Jackson
6.88
Noni Madueke
6.82
via WhoScored
From June 27 to July 3, just after the group stages finish, teams will be given the chance to add new players to their CWC roster – which allows Chelsea to introduce new signings who could take part in the knockout phase – if they indeed make it that far.
Chelsea missed out on deals for both AC Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan and Borussia Dortmund’s Jamie Gittens before the pre-CWC window deadline, with the west Londoners walking away from the former after refusing to meet Milan’s asking price.
Chelsea made three last-minute bids for Gittens as well, but none of them could satisfy Dortmund, who kept demanding more and more money for the English sensation.
It is unclear whether Chelsea will maintain their pursuit of Gittens in time for the CWC unique registration period starting on June 27, but they could perhaps turn to Eintracht Frankfurt sensation Hugo Ekitike instead.
Chelsea in ongoing talks for Hugo Ekitike after pre-Club World Cup deadline
There are reports that Chelsea believe Ekitike could eventually rival Newcastle United star Alexander Isak, which is how highly they rate the Frenchman after his exceptional 22-goal campaign.
Frankfurt striker Hugo Ekitike
According to Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg, Chelsea are maintaining talks for Ekitike, despite failing to sign him in time for the CWC, so he’s still very much “one to watch”.
“Chelsea and Ekitike remain in talks for the summer transfer window – but Liverpool are still in the race,” said Plettenberg.
“One to watch in the coming weeks.”
The 22-year-old is very highly-rated, with ex-Inter Milan star Wesley Sneijder even calling him a blend of Neymar and Kylian Mbappe, so Ekitike could well be worth the punt – but not for his ridiculously high price tag of around £84 million.
“I think he’s a mix between Neymar and [Kylian] Mbappé. I sincerely think so,” said Sneijder.
“He has the grace of Neymar, but also the movements of Mbappé. To suddenly accelerate, that’s something that Mbappé also has. And he’s only 22 years old. There’s really a lot of potential in this boy.”
With Ipswich Town suffering relegation back down to the Championship, there must be a fear in the air that they could suffer the same fate as Luton Town.
Like the Hatters, the Tractor Boys sealed an unexpected place in the top-flight but since then, Luton have found themselves on the end of back-to-back relegations.
Of course, Kieran McKenna will look to the examples of both Burnley and Leeds United instead as clubs who have been able to lick their wounds quickly after sinking back down to the EFL, but it’s not set in stone that the Tractor Boys will rise back up to the Premier League in a flash.
Ipswich Town'sLiamDelapreacts
Any effort made towards achieving instant promotion will be made a lot harder by Liam Delap’s impending exit from Portman Road, with the young Englishman now closing in on a move to Chelsea.
Latest update on Delap's Ipswich future
If it wasn’t for Delap leading the line, Ipswich’s 2024/25 campaign would have been a lot more grim towards the foot of the top-flight table.
Indeed, a large 12 of the Tractor Boys’ overall 33 league strikes came courtesy of the ex-Manchester City man’s magic firepower in front of goal, but not even Delap’s best efforts have been able to keep his lowly side from succumbing to the drop.
But, off the back of being such a livewire in an otherwise despondent group, Delap attracted interest from a plethora of top-flight sides including Manchester United, Everton, Newcastle United and, of course, the Blues.
The Daily Mail revealed earlier this week that he had held talks with four potential sides over leaving Suffolk behind, with his low £30m release clause tickling the fancy of many a Premier League outfit.
As it is, Enzo Maresca’s side have emerged victorious from that hotly-contested battle, with Fabrizio Romano outlining that the striker is set to undergo a medical on Monday, ahead of moving to Stamford Bridge.
Whilst losing Delap would be devastating, not every departure this summer needs to be equally as soul-destroying.
The Ipswich star who must now be axed
McKenna will believe that he can steer Ipswich straight back up to the big time, having already achieved two memorable promotions from the Portman Road dug-out.
But, he could well have to be cut-throat in who he allows to leave the building if he wants instant success, with long-standing Ipswich servant Sam Morsy one face he might have to contemplate letting leave.
After all, whilst the Egyptian veteran did captain both of those promotion-winning sides, he showed worrying signs of rust when thrown into the side last season.
It resulted in Morsy only picking up a weak one goal and one assist from 31 starts, which is way off his three goals and six assists tally during the 2023/24 campaign.
Additionally, despite falling down the pecking order in Suffolk somewhat, Morsy still pockets a higher wage per week than Tractor Boys stalwart Leif Davis, with the left-back also eyeing up a major move away from Ipswich now, with Nottingham Forest rumoured to be keen.
George Hirst
£27.5k-per-week
26
3
1
Jack Clarke
£25k-per-week
32
0
4
Jaden Philogene
£25k-per-week
21
2
0
Liam Delap
£20k-per-week
37
12
2
Leif Davis
£25k-per-week
33
1
2
Amazingly, Morsy’s £30k-per-week salary means he earns more than all of the Ipswich first team figures above, with the Tractor Boys number five even raking in £10k-per-week more than 12-goal hero Delap.
McKenna might well want to keep Morsy around for one final season before his Ipswich contract runs down, knowing full well that he knows what it takes to play his part in a successful EFL campaign.
But, before he declines even more, it could well be the most appropriate course of action to move on Morsy now.
If "sensational" Ipswich star leaves, it would be as disastrous as Delap
Ipswich Town could also lose this sensational star away from just Liam Delap leaving Portman Road.
Glasgow Rangers are currently searching for their next head coach after they ended the 2024/25 campaign without a single trophy to show for their efforts.
The Light Blues had to watch on as Aberdeen secured silverware by beating Celtic on penalties in the final of the SFA Cup, a competition the club were knocked out of by lower league outfit Queen’s Park in one of Philippe Clement’s last matches in charge.
Rangers opted to relieve the Belgian head coach of his duties shortly after that dismal result in the cup, and Barry Ferguson came in as the interim head coach until the end of the season.
The former Scotland international, who played for Rangers in his playing days, only won six of his 15 matches in charge in all competitions, and ended his tenure with a 2-2 draw away at Hibernian.
It has since been confirmed that Ferguson will not be offered the job on a full-time basis and that he will return to his ambassador role at Ibrox.
This means that the job is still available to a head coach from elsewhere, and Davide Ancelotti is a name that continues to be linked with a switch to Glasgow.
Why Rangers should not appoint Davide Ancelotti
RangersReview reported that claims from Spain that the Italian coach is close to being appointed as the next manager are premature, but that there are further talks planned with the former Real Madrid assistant.
Ancelotti and his father Carlo said their goodbyes to the Real Madrid supporters after their final match against Real Sociedad in LaLiga on Saturday, with his dad set to join the Brazilian national team.
Real Madrid assistant coachDavideAncelotti
It remains to be seen whether or not Davide will join him in Brazil or take up a post elsewhere, but Rangers should opt against a move for him this summer.
The Light Blues need a manager who can bring success back to Ibrox and hiring the former Real assistant would be a massive risk, because he has not managed a team in his senior career to date.
Real Madrid (Assistant manager)
Carlo Ancelotti
233
Everton (Assistant manager)
Carlo Ancelotti
67
Napoli (Assistant manager)
Carlo Ancelotti
73
Bayern Munich (Assistant manager)
Carlo Ancelotti
60
Real Madrid (Fitness coach)
Carlo Ancelotti
119
PSG (Fitness coach)
Carlo Ancelotti
77
As you can see in the table above, Ancelotti has only worked under his father as a fitness coach or as an assistant to date, which means that he is unproven as the main man leading a team.
His vast experience at gigantic European clubs, like PSG, Real Madrid, and Bayern Munich, is a plus in his column, but there is no guarantee that he can use that as a head coach in his own right.
That is why Rangers should not appoint Ancelotti as their next head coach, particularly when they are reportedly eyeing up a manager who would be a much better option on paper.
Rangers have held talks with 3-4-3 manager
According to the BBC, Danish head coach Brian Priske has emerged as a contender for the vacant managerial position at Ibrox ahead of next season.
The report claims that the manager, who was sacked by Feyenoord earlier this season, has already held talks with the Scottish giants over a possible move to Glasgow.
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It states that the process is ongoing and that Priske is one of a number of candidates they have lined up to permanently replace Clement, following on from Ferguson’s departure at the end of the season.
The BBC adds that Ancelotti and former Southampton head coach Russell Martin have also been named as managers who could be in the frame alongside the Danish tactician.
With this in mind, the 49ers, Patrick Stewart, and Kevin Thelwell must all agree to pursue Priske further, beyond the initial talks that have been held, because he would be miles better than Ancelotti.
Why Rangers should appoint Brian Priske
Rangers should swoop to appoint the 48-year-old tactician because he is a proven winner who has won league titles in the top divisions in multiple other countries.
Priske, who typically deploys a 3-4-3 system, is an experienced manager who has been there and done it. Whereas, Ancelotti has it all to prove and is yet to show that he has what it takes to lead a team to success on his own.
Rangers will want to get back to winning ways in the Scottish Premiership to prevent Celtic from winning a fifth title in succession, which is why they should appoint a manager who has a proven track record of success when it comes to winning leagues, or at least coaching a winning team.
Priske won two league titles during his time with Sparta Prague in Czechia and won a league title in his first season in management with Midtjylland in the 2019/20 campaign in his home country.
24/25 (Feyenoord)
21
39
3rd
23/24 (Sparta Prague)
35
87
1st
22/23 (Sparta Prague)
35
78
1st
21/22 (Royal Antwerp)
40
67
4th
20/21 (Midtjylland)
32
50
2nd
19/20 (Midtjylland)
30
65
1st
As you can see in the table above, the Danish boss has never finished below fourth in a league season, although Feyenoord dismissed him earlier this term with his side in third, so it could have gone either way if he had been kept on.
This shows that Priske has won two league titles in the last three seasons, and three in six seasons as a manager, which is why he would be miles better than Ancelotti as an option for the Gers.
Davide Ancelotti
He has the relevant experience and success to suggest that Rangers would be making a brilliant decision to bring him in, whilst Ancelotti would be a huge gamble given his lack of experience as a first-team head coach.
Priske also won the Dutch Super Cup with Feyenoord and the Czech Cup with Sparta Prague, which shows that he can also handle cup competitions and has the potential to deliver success in the League Cup and the SFA Cup.
49ers can finally axe Propper by signing 6 ft 4 titan for Rangers
Rangers could turn to the Premier League for their first signing this summer.
ByRoss Kilvington May 25, 2025
Therefore, the Light Blues must swoop to appoint the Danish head coach as their permanent replacement for Philippe Clement because he appears to be the ideal candidate on paper.
Aston Villa have been told by the representatives of a forward that he’d sign for them this summer regardless of their Champions League status, with Unai Emery and NSWE handed a potential transfer boost by this news.
Aston Villa given Champions League hope after win over Tottenham
Emery’s side, depending on results elsewhere, still have a chance to book their place in the Champions League draw for 2025/2026 after a precious win over Tottenham at Villa Park on Friday evening.
Aston Villa add record-breaking forward to shortlist as Monchi plots move
He’s enjoyed an excellent season.
ByTom Cunningham May 14, 2025
Goals from Ezri Konsa and Boubacar Kamara mean the Villans remain in contention for a coveted spot in Europe’s most prestigious competition, coming after they reached the Champions League quarter-finals this term and unluckily bowed out to favourites PSG.
2. Arsenal
68
36
3. Newcastle United
66
36
4. Chelsea
66
37
5. Aston Villa
66
37
6. Man City
65
36
7. Nottingham Forest
62
36
Villa would probably need to beat struggling Man United at Old Trafford while hoping rivals drop key points, with Chelsea set to play fellow European hopefuls, Nottingham Forest, on the final day while Man City have a game in hand.
While the Champions League race could eventually fall out of their grasp, Emery has explained what is really important to him in the grand scheme of things, on Villa’s journey to become an elite-level side.
“The most important thing for us and for me, and how we can really progress, is by being consistent through the Premier League over 38 games, getting the points needed to always be in the European positions,” said Emery before Villa’s win over Spurs, in an interview with Sky.
Generalview of an AstonVillapennant before the match
“We are trying to have a clear identity, trying to connect with our supporters, how we are playing, with our style, our intensity, our skills. This is very important because I think we need to achieve the heart of the supporters to get the energy that we need.”
Aston Villa told that Rashford would re-join regardless of Champions League status
Their European endeavors will have an effect on their recruitment plans, as world-class players are usually more attracted to the possibility of playing Champions League football, as is predictably the case.
They’d also get a transfer boost financially, so the result of Villa’s standings after their final matchday will have a profound effect on their plans for next season off the field.
However, this apparently isn’t the case with £300,000-per-week Man United loanee Marcus Rashford, who’s enjoyed a productive temporary spell in the Midlands with 10 goal contributions in 17 matches (four goals, six assists).
According to journalist Graeme Bailey, writing for The Boot Room, Rashford’s representatives have told Villa that Champions League qualification “isn’t necessarily needed for him to re-sign”.
The England international has refused to rule out staying at Villa beyond this term, even if he does hold a preference for Barcelona, and remains open-minded about his future past 24/25.
Villa possess an option to buy Rashford for £40 million, and according to this report, United will not deviate from that price point – so NSWE know what is required to keep the winger.
Leeds United are said to have made an approach to sign a “fantastic” Premier League player in the summer transfer window.
Leeds eyeing signings for Premier League return
The Whites have secured their return to the top flight from the Championship, and it’s now a case of finding the right signings to bolster their hopes of survival.
In each of the past two seasons, the three promoted clubs into the Premier League have gone straight back down, so Leeds will be hoping they can buck that trend in 2025/26 by signing some top-quality players. With that in mind, 49ers Enterprises are thought to be willing to spend around £30m each on a new goalkeeper, centre-back and central midfielder, and have set further funds aside for a new striker.
Leeds United celebrate winning Championship title.
Following Illan Meslier’s inconsistent form, Wolves stopper Sam Johnstone has been mentioned as an option to strengthen between the sticks. The Englishman has struggled for playing time at Molineux this season, so may jump at the opportunity to join Daniel Farke’s side.
A Kalvin Phillips reunion has also been mooted in recent days, with the Englishman’s career nosediving since leaving Elland Road for Manchester City, with injuries hampering him and a place back in Leeds’ midfield an enticing proposition.
Leeds want to sign "fantastic" Man City starlet
According to a new report from The Sunday Mirror [via MOT Leeds News], Phillips isn’t the only subject of interest at the Etihad, as Leeds have made an approach for City attacking midfielder James McAtee, seeing him as an exciting target this summer.
City value the 22-year-old at £25m and an exit is on the cards at the end of the season, with the Englishman only having one year left on his current deal. The Whites are set to battle Nottingham Forest, West Ham, Crystal Palace and Bayer Leverkusen for his services.
Manchester City'sJamesMcAteecelebrates after the match
McAtee could be exactly what Leeds are after ahead of next season, in terms of being a young player with lots of potential, but also already picking up some Premier League experience. In a star-studded City squad, the midfielder has still managed 15 appearances in the league this term, scoring three times in the process, and Pep Guardiola has described him as a “fantastic” player.
McAtee seemingly doesn’t have a long-term future at the Etihad, however, with too many elite players ahead of him in the pecking order, so a move to Leeds this summer could be an ideal outcome for all parties.
He would come straight in as a key starter for the Whites, rather than warming the bench for City, and his ability to shine in both a central attacking midfield role and out wide on the right flank would surely appeal to Farke.
"Sensational" Leeds target now ready to quit PL club as 49ers plot move
He could solve their biggest problem…
ByTom Cunningham May 11, 2025
At 22, this is the right time for McAtee to become a regular starter in the Premier League, rather than wasting his best years as a substitute, and the 18-cap and seven-goal England Under-21 international should be considered a priority option for Leeds.